Roussolakkos
35°11′43″N 26°16′32″E / 35.19525°N 26.275426°E
Roussolakkos is the site of a
In Greek mythology, the site was regarded as the birthplace of Diktaian Zeus.[citation needed] and the location where Jason and the Argonauts confronted Talos, the man of bronze, a generation before the Trojan War.[citation needed]
Bronze age settlement
The earliest written records documenting the worship of Diktaian Zeus at Roussolakkos come from the Mycenaean Greek Linear B archives at Knossos and date to the close of the Cretan Bronze Age (ca. 1300 BC), however, sacred art and architecture dating from all periods have been found, suggesting that the site was hallowed throughout its history. Among the most beautiful artifacts attesting the worship of Diktaian Zeus is a unique gold and ivory statuette of the god made ca. 1500 BC. See this and more finds at the museum in Sitia.[citation needed]
Archaeology
Roussolakkos was first excavated from 1902-6 by Robert Carr Bosanquet and Richard MacGillivray Dawkins of the British School at Athens. Work was continued by L. H. Sackett and M. R. Popham in 1962-3, and is currently directed by J. A. MacGillivray, L. H. Sackett and J. M. Driessen since 1983.
Just south of Roussolakkos is Mt
The Palaikastro Kouros was found at Roussolakkos, purposefully desecrated by burning and smashing[2] during an ancient invasion of the site.
Endangered site
While the ravages of later periods and recent tourism development have obscured similar sites elsewhere in Crete, so far they have spared Roussolakkos with an area of 50,000 square metres. Today, however, a private developer has been granted permission to build a large tourist complex at Cape Plako, an area which includes the Minoan quarries and outlying sites. An access road to reach the resort area is planned through the ancient city. In addition to development pressures, Palekastro's harbor and coastal buildings are also threatened by a rise in sea level due to local
References
- ISBN 978-0-520-07382-1.
- ^ "The Minotaur's Island" (video). youtube. Retrieved 2019-06-01.